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Forum Index : Windmills : Windmill>Turbine reg>PVE1200
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WindyMick Newbie  Joined: 25/12/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
G'day all, I'm a neebie who hasn't broken his duck on a windmill yet but before I do I'm wondering why it is that some of you folks charge a battery bank when you could go straight into a Latronics turbine controller or the like. I've already got a Latronics Grid Connect inverter with 1.44KW PV modules so I'm wondering whether I need a battery bank or is it best to use the Turbine controller and parellel it's output with the PV modules which is explained more or less on the Latronics website.This would also negate the need to have rectifiers as the 3 phase alternator output would go straight into the Turbine controller.After saying that does that then limit my ability to stagger the stators to give a nice power curve? Batteries tend to be expensive and require maintenance although I have not priced the Turbine controller as yet. I notice also the Turbine controller has an electronic brake would could be a drama if you were running a voltage doubler or the like. Any feedback ? Manly to win ! |
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Downwind Guru  Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Hi Mick, A GTS often misses the lower power that a battery will except and store, so the operational period can be bigger with a battery system. It all depends on the alternator being used and the output voltage to rpm of the mill to wind conditions. In other words ..... if you have the alternator designed right for the wind you have and the system you are using, than your system would work ok, but if you work from washing machine parts and the likes, than we use the power best we can, and convert it to suit our needs. Either will work but its a matter of squeezing every last drop out of what we have available, and what best suits the application. The controller can be cheap and do a very good job, if its connected to a battery, as the battery acts as a dampener to the voltage produced, so variations are smoothed out. Rectifiers are cheap and a non issue on cost. The thing is there is rectifiers somewhere weather external or internal depending on the system used. Pete Sometimes it just works |
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Greenthumbs Regular Member  Joined: 05/12/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 40 |
Hi WindyMick, I am using a Latronics PVE1200 and a TC48 turbine controller. It works great but your right I could not use voltage doubler circuits with the braking system. You can get a modification done to the TC48 turbine controller so that it has connection to a dump load instead of the braking system. The standard TC48 costs around $550 to $800 depending on where you buy it. To get around the voltage doubler circuit problem I am using staggered coils sizes. It works great but it takes a lot of testing with the wind you have and the mill you own. My first one was destroyed first night it was up but now starts the PVE1200 feeding at just 1.5 m/s. I have only seen 430Watts so far in this configuration. A little bit of power all the time is better than a lot for only a small time. If you are interested look at 2.9M white pointer reveiw The trick is you must get the voltage to 57 volts although I have seen it feed from 48 volts onwards with my setup. Hope this sheads some light on the subject at hand. Regards Damo |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi readers, I had a reasonably long reply to address your apparent cap doubler problems, but it has gone to cyberspace, so here is an abridged version. Basically cap doublers do work with the Latronics components. The cap voltage doubler operates in harmony with and in parallel to a TC48. I suspect that there are problems with your connections. I have tested with a newer TC48 with rectifier and a PVE1200. I moved DipSW1 to the battery connected position to extend the time grid connection is maintained. There are many others successfully using these components with a cap voltage doubler without problems. Confirm you have wired correctly. I am sure you will get the cap voltage doublers to work. Maybe you can show a diag, or pic of your setup, a problem can be found. I can assure other readers that cap voltage doublers DO work with Latronics gear. Gordon. PS if the windmill does not have slip rings, then it really does not matter how the alternator/s are wired, but if you have slip rings, then cap voltage doublers do offer a relatively simple solution to lowering cutin rpm and giving a better windmill loading. become more energy aware |
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| Greenthumbs Regular Member Joined: 05/12/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 40 |
Hi Gordon, I have not actually tried the voltage doubler circuit because I was worried that the brake would not work, however if you reckon it will work then I shall give it a go. 
Thanks for setting us straight. Regards Damo |
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| GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Damo, You can't be that far up the road to me. I have many rubber necks drop in on me. Summer is here, and this year will probably not be too different to any other. Have had 3 groups already today. You are welcome to join the line. My own windmill/solar setup is usually in a state of change, as I try different things, but I usually have cap doublers lying around. I have yet to swap out my first mill and get my second new mill up again. I am planning on having one windmill now with boost ccts in different configs able to be switched in or out, and a second mill with buck ccts and caps that can be interchanged. These will be logged of course with my windmill analyzer. I am in the process of writing a new software interface to display my solar and windmill and export data, as well as a comment field. The data logging has provision for 3 digital sensors for windspeed and rpm, and 10 analogue sensors, for incident solar, battery volts, and up to 8 current sensors. This is what I have now. I am in the process of finding a configuration that gives the best mix of battery charging and export of power. The PVE1200 is only a small part of my RE setup now. Now with the TC48, and the use of a cap doubler. There is a 32A cct breaker on the TC48. If the breaker is opened, then the windmill can run free. This may cause problems with the operation of the cap voltage doubler, and voltages that appear on the PVE12100 if it is unable to load, say during grid connection. I don't think the systems are fool proof, or fail safe. I may look at a rewire arrangement that could be fail safe. Warranty will always be an issue with add on's, so you will probably be on your own if it goes bung. I don't have the TC48 schematics, so I can't confirm fail safe operation with a cap doubler. Gordon. become more energy aware |
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KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
Are you intending to use this with an F&P? I assume so as we're talking caps too forget the basic TC48, LATRAONICS will not warrant the use of this with an F&P you must use the dump load version instead. I went the battery route as at the time people (ie Grodon) was talking about ones he had modded and repaired vs a battery system which was tried and tested Batteries can be had for less than $1 / AH if you shop around (SLA's brand new ebay) I went for 8 x 80AH 12v SLA's which is still a little light for the PVE1200 but so is the F&P dual . :) Luck favours the well prepared |
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